Melbourne City star Holly McNamara has been shortlisted for one of Asian football’s most prestigious honours, earning a nomination for AFC Women’s Player of the Year at the upcoming AFC Awards Riyadh 2025.
The ceremony, hosted in Saudi Arabia for the first time, will take place on October 16 at the King Fahad Cultural Center and celebrate the very best across Asian football.
McNamara has been recognised alongside Wang Shuang (China PR) and Hana Takahashi (Japan) in the Women’s Player of the Year category.
The nomination caps off an extraordinary year for the 22-year-old attacker, who returned from a lengthy injury lay off to deliver a standout 2024/25 campaign.
McNamara finished as the A-League Women’s Golden Boot winner, scoring 15 goals in just 17 regular season appearances as City secured back-to-back Premiers Plate titles with a historic Invincibles campaign.
Her impact wasn’t limited to domestic football. McNamara also found the net in the AFC Women’s Champions League, helping City to reach the Final in the competition’s inaugural edition, while on the international stage she marked her return to the Matildas by scoring her first senior goal in June 2025.
Former City captain Steph Catley has also been recognised for an incredible 2024/25 campaign where she lifted the UEFA Women’s Champions League title with Arsenal, nominated for the AFC Asian International Player of the Year (Women) after another stellar season in Europe and on the international stage.
The AFC Awards Riyadh 2025 awards ceremony will be streamed live on the AFC’s YouTube and other digital platforms.
